Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease: Genetic Risk Factors, Symptoms + Prevention Strategies

According to the Alzheimer’s Association (1) more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease. This debilitating, degenerative brain health problem continues to grow by leaps and bounds with no signs of slowing down. As a functional medicine expert, it is my job to identify the root cause of chronic health problems like Alzheimer’s so that we no no longer have to live in captivity of our symptoms.

From common symptoms, genetic variants that put us at a higher risk for this condition, and my favorite natural prevention strategies, let's dive into the ins and outs of Alzheimer’s disease so that we can reclaim our health once and for all.

What is Alzheimer’s Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is a complex neurological disorder that is characterized by progressive cognitive decline and memory loss. While the exact mechanisms of this condition are still being studied, it is believed to be caused by an abnormal accumulation of proteins in the brain that form plaque that ends up disrupting the communication between brain cells. Ultimately, this degeneration results in the loss of cognitive function and the ability to perform daily activities like driving or brushing your teeth.

In functional medicine, we recognize that Alzheimer's is the result of various genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors that have built up over time. Some of the early signs of Alzheimer’s include:

• Mixing up words when speaking
• Placing items in unfamiliar places
• Getting lost in a familiar area
• Mood or behavior changes
• Trouble concentrating for extended periods of time
• Repeating questions
• Taking longer to complete familiar tasks
• General brain fog

As the National Institute on Aging (2) states, Alzheimer’s disease progresses from mild, moderate, to severe with symptoms advancing as the condition develops:

• Changes in sleeping patterns / insomnia
• Problems recognizing close family and friends
• Irrational emotional outbursts
• Difficulty completing everyday tasks without assistance (getting dressed, brushing teeth)
• Hallucinations and paranoia
• Repetitive statements and movement
• Inability to communicate altogether (verbal and written)

Just remember, if you are experiencing any one of these early symptoms that doesn’t mean you have dementia! Empowering yourself with education is the biggest way we can maintain vibrant health because we know what to be on the lookout for as we age.

The Genetic Connection

Your genetics play a significant role in your health, including the development of Alzheimer’s disease. But in functional medicine we know that it is our choices that increase the likelihood of whether or not these genetic risk factors ever come to fruition into a full-blown diagnosis.

When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease there are two types of genes associated with this condition: risk genes and deterministic genes. If you have a risk gene like apolipoprotein E (APOE), you automatically have a higher chance of developing Alzheimer’s later in life. In my telehealth functional medicine clinic, we have found that the APOE4 variant is the most common variant associated with the development of this disease.

Deterministic genes are extremely rare and include mutations in genes such as amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin-1 (PSEN1), and presenilin-2 (PSEN2). If you have a mutation in one of these genes it can lead to early-onset Alzheimer's disease, which typically manifests before the age of 65. While deterministic genes account for a small percentage of Alzheimer's cases, it is important to know about these as research around these gene variants can help us gain a better understanding of Alzheimer’s disease in both functional and conventional medicine.

Natural remedies to prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

1. Limit your sugar intake

Due to its close link to metabolic health, researchers are now beginning to refer to Alzheimer’s as type 3 diabetes. In fact, insulin resistance has been found to be directly correlated with the development of this disease. They believe this has to do with the fact that the area of your brain that processes information and controls memory is hindered (3) by higher levels of blood sugar.

2. Eat more healthy fats

If sugar can hurt your brain, fat fuels it. Studies have shown that diets rich in healthy fats can decrease Alzheimer’s disease by up to 60 percent (4) and are continually proven in research to be one of the best forms of long-lasting, sustainable fuel for your brain.

3. Practice mindfulness

Mindfulness techniques like meditation have been directly correlated with reduced neuroinflammation, (5) enhanced neurotransmitter function, (6) and better cognitive function, (7) specifically when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease.

4. Exercise regularly

Not only does daily movement improve blood flow to the brain it also promotes neuroplasticity (8) - your brain’s ability to adapt and grow new healthy neural pathways. Aim for a combination of aerobic exercises, strength training, and mind-body practices like yoga or tai chi to optimize brain health.

5. Support your gut health

If you want to enhance your brain health, you’ll want to focus on supporting your “second brain” as well. The gut-brain connection is something I talk a lot about in my telehealth functional medicine clinic and understanding this bi-directional relationship between your gut and your brain  is key to maintaining cognitive function. Once you understand that whatever affects your gut affects your brain and vice versa, you’ll look at the health of your gut in a whole different light. Check out my article here for your complete guide to supporting your gut health.

6. Keep your mind busy

Keep your brain active by participating in mentally stimulating activities such as reading, puzzles, learning new skills, and socializing. These activities can help build cognitive reserve and potentially reduce the risk of cognitive decline.

7. Get lab work done

I always recommend getting as much information about your health as possible. Genetic testing through companies like 23andMe can identify if you have any of these genetic mutations that would increase your likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s so you can put together a targeted plan of action that focuses more intently on supporting your brain.

The Takeaway

Even though there is no current cure for Alzheimer’s, knowing your level of genetic risk and taking steps to optimize brain health can do wonders for preventing this condition from developing as you get older. Implementing these strategies can also be beneficial if you are in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.

If you are experiencing any of these early symptoms of Alzheimer's or are looking to optimize your brain health naturally, schedule a telehealth consultation to learn how we can help you with functional medicine.

As one of the first functional medicine telehealth clinics in the world, we provide webcam health consultations for people around the globe.